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Australia's bold policy to prohibit social media access for young people below 16 is creating waves internationally. Officials, safety advocates, and parents are observing with great interest to see if this approach will become a template for other nations.

Across Europe Movement

Across Europe, a growing number of countries are considering parallel restrictions.

• The Danish government has announced a restriction on social media for children under fifteen, with the prime minister declaring that mobile devices and networks are "taking away our kids' innocence". The policy is expected to be enacted in the coming year.
• Norway is set to enforce a minimum age limit of 15, highlighting the need to shield children from the "influence of the recommendation systems".
• Ireland is introducing a digital wallet to authenticate the identity and age of social media participants. Authorities have stated that an similar ban remains "a potential options in reserve".
• In Spain, the president has asked the legislature to approve a bill raising the minimum age for joining social media to 16.
• In France, the president has floated the idea of a ban for under-15s, and a parliamentary commission has endorsed a related move, potentially involving an overnight "screen time restriction" for older teenagers.
• The government in the Netherlands has advised parents to prevent their children from social media up to the age of 15.

At the EU level, the EU parliament has approved a advisory motion demanding a ban for under-16s unless a parent decides otherwise is given. Even though it cautions of the "compulsive" quality of these services, the step does not enact binding law.

"A clear age barrier is a solid starting point," stated a leading parliamentarian supporting the measure.

Britain: An Evidence-Based Stance

For the United Kingdom, the administration has kept open a potential ban, arguing that "nothing is being dismissed" but insisting any policy must be "grounded in strong data".

Previously, interest built behind a proposal to impose controls on social media use by teenagers, but it was in the end weakened. However, the government committed to investigate the topic.

Advocacy groups have raised concerns. One foundation established by the loved ones of a young person who died after viewing disturbing social media material suggests that a blanket age ban could fail to protect children and could result in a "dangerous transition" of harm when young people turn 16.

"This ban is a reaction to the inability of the tech sector to design products and services that are appropriate and age appropriate for young users," stated a prominent online safety campaigner.

America: A Fragmented Landscape

Across America, regulation is primarily unfolding at the local level amid federal gridlock.

• Utah requires guardian permission for under-18s to use social media and restricts nighttime use.
• The state of Florida has signed a law banning under-14s from joining social media, though it is subject to court battles.
• Virginia has approved a law capping under-16s to a single hour of social media use per day, with any further use needing adult consent.
• Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana have also enacted bills requiring adult authorization for teenagers to open social media accounts.

Even with bipartisan support and calls from some politicians to mimic Australia's lead, a US-wide ban is right now seen as unlikely.

International Outlook

Beyond Europe and the US, further nations are similarly taking action.

• Malaysia intends to prohibit social media for teenagers beginning next year.
• Brazil has raised the minimum age for the platform Instagram to 16.

However, global agencies take a more measured tone. Unicef has cautioned that age-based restrictions have downsides and "may even have unintended consequences". The body notes that online platforms can be a "critical link" for isolated children and that government action should not be a "replacement" for tech companies to prioritize user protection.

While this international conversation continues, the policies of Australia and others indicate that governments internationally are no longer willing to wait for tech companies to make changes on their own.